Halloween spectacle: The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze returns to Old Bethpage Village

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Grab your hoodies and make sure your phones are charged enough to take plenty of photos.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, 7,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns, is set to illuminate Old Bethpage Village Restoration for a fifth consecutive year. Running from Oct. 4 to Nov. 3, the family-friendly carved pumpkins and light spectacle could be the most enchanting yet, with new attractions and a special anniversary celebration.

Visitors will be treated to a half-mile trail that is filled with thousands of carved and decorated pumpkins arranged into intricate displays. New additions this year include a Day of the Dead tribute, a working Ferris wheel for “Pumpkin Pals,” and an elaborate Celebration Arch that acknowledges the event’s fifth anniversary.

Blaze stands among Long Island’s premier Halloween events. Masterminded by Historic Hudson Valley and its renowned creative director Michael Natiello, the event has been featured on HGTV, The Today Show and other national broadcasts.

Many of the displays celebrate Long Island.

*This is a view of the 2023 Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, N.Y. on Sept. 21, 2023.*

Highlights of this year’s event include:

A Long Island Hall of Fame featuring pumpkin sculptures of such local icons as Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Jerry Seinfeld, Sue Bird, Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, and Natalie Portman.
Montauk Point Lighthouse replica with a blazing beacon of illuminated pumpkins.
A tribute to first responders, with carved jack o’lanterns depicting heroic firefighters.
A glowing rendition of the Statue of Liberty composed of 114 individually carved pumpkins.

What’s new? Custom carvings

Organizers have added a special new feature — guests can now order custom-carved pumpkins to surprise loved ones. The special order pumpkins will be displayed at the Celebration Arch.

Presented by Catholic Health, the offers a flat rate admission of $10 for children ages 3-17. Adult tickets start at $32. Admission is free for children 2 and under.

Historic Hudson Valley, a not-for-profit education organization, produces the event in partnership with Nassau County. Proceeds support the preservation of Old Bethpage Village Restoration and educational programming.

Tickets must be purchased in advance online at www.pumpkinblaze.org. Organizers said no tickets will be sold at the venue.